Wednesday, 4 September 2013

96: Barnsley - Wakefield

Stop press: Tates Travel are no longer trading and the 96 is no longer running. This post has been left on in case another company starts running that route. Always check with the operator and local authority before you travel.

Once a mining town, Barnsley has now been regenerated with plenty of flowers in the town centre and possibly Britain's most modern-looking bus station. It's so easy to use Barnsley as a hub because the bus and railway stations are right next to each other. There was me thinking that such sensible ideas had been banned in the UK!

The highlight of this route by far. There's nowhere like Yorkshire Sculpture Park anywhere else in Britain. Huge sculptures, lots of them, set in an enormous country park. You really need to spend the whole day here to do it justice. Great value too: car drivers get charged £7.50 to park, but bus passengers don't have to pay a penny! The bus runs right into the park, dropping you off in the car park by the visitor centre, which includes a gift shop and toilets. Elsewhere in the park there are a restaurant and cafe although you can of course bring your own lunch and have a picnic.

The only day ticket valid from end to end is the operator's own Tates Travel Day Saver at £4.40. For single and return fares, call Tates on 01226 205 800.

If you are travelling only within West Yorkshire, so Wakefield to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, then you can use Metro's range of tickets. The MetroDay at £5.40 can be used on all buses of all operators throughout West Yorkshire. If arriving by train, a Wakefield Plusbus ticket has the same validity as the MetroDay.

If you are only travelling within South Yorkshire, that's Barnsley to Haigh Roundabout (M1 junction 38), then you can use Travel South Yorkshire's tickets, which include the SYConnectDay at £6.00, valid on all buses in South Yorkshire. While valid on the 96, these tickets cannot be bought on board the bus, but are available from the Travel South Yorkshire Information Centre at Barnsley Interchange. If arriving in to Barnsley by train, the Barnsley Plusbus has the same validity as the SYConnectDay.

Connections

Map of the 96 and major connecting routes. Not to scale. Red routes are operated by Tates Travel and can be used with their Day Saver. Green routes are run by other companies.

If you're connecting in Wakefield, then Metro's Wakefield bus map will help you on your way. See the detailed city centre map here and bus station details here. Arriva run most of the buses in Wakefield. See their local network map here.

Wakefield has two railway stations, both a few minutes walk from the bus station:

Stop press: Tates Travel are no longer trading and the 96 is no longer running. This post has been left on in case another company starts running that route. Always check with the operator and local authority before you travel.

All of the information in this post is correct at the time of writing, but please check the relevant links before travelling.

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Welcome

Buses are the most used mode of public transport, but you wouldn't think that from the portrayal they receive in the media. As good as trains are, buses reach more places. But finding out which bus goes where and which routes are really worth using can be difficult if you don't know where to look.

This new blog will profile Britain's most useful and/or scenic bus routes, one at a time. We will cover routes in all regions. Some will be chosen for the speed with which they connect two major places. Some will be chosen for the sheer beauty of the landscapes through which they pass, landscapes which really should be enjoyed from a bus window, where you can take it all in.

For each route, we will detail where it goes and what can be done in the places it links and passes through. We will also advise which day rover tickets are valid and where else such tickets can take you on connecting services. We certainly won't be ignoring the trains, as they are often the best way to connect to some of our best bus routes.

Above all, we will be honest about what we really think about the routes we cover and we will encourage you to be by leaving comments about your experiences on that route. This blog is completely independent of any bus operator or local authority.

Disclaimer

This page is not owned by or affiliated to any bus operator or local authority. All information is correct at the time of writing, but please check with the relevant bus operator before travelling. Contact us: sotonbus@googlemail.com